SCEPA is proud to host “The Promise of Public Pensions,” a lecture by New York State Comptroller Tom P. DiNapoli on his vision for the future of retirement security in New York. 

6:00pm to 8:00pm
December 12, 2011
Theresa Lang Community and Student Center
Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd floor
New York, NY

The Great Recession's damaging effect on municipal budgets has given urgency to state public pension reform efforts. DiNapoli, sole trustee of the $146.9 billion New York State Pension Fund, will discuss the health and affordability of the New York State Pension Fund, analyze the potential economic and human costs of leading pension reform proposals, and consider the wider implications of the ongoing erosion of retirement security for both public and private sector employees.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli first took office in February 2007 and was elected to a full four-year term in November 2010. As such, he serves as New York's chief fiscal officer and is responsible for auditing the operations of all state agencies and local governments, managing the state's pension fund, overseeing the New York State and Local Retirement System, reviewing the State and New York City budgets, approving State contracts, and administering the State's payroll and central accounting system.

Before becoming Comptroller, DiNapoli represented northwestern Nassau County in the State Assembly for 20 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Hofstra University and a master's degree in management and urban policy from The New School University. Prior to his election to the Assembly, DiNapoli was a manager in the telecommunications industry and served as an adjunct professor.

SCEPA is home to the Guaranteeing Retirement Income Project, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and in collaboration with Demos and the Economic Policy Institute. This project is working to research the current state of retirement preparedness in the United States and support public policy proposals to ensure safe and secure retirement income for all Americans. The project is run by SCEPA Director Teresa Ghilarducci, a labor economist and one of the country's foremost retirement experts. 

Comptroller DiNapoli will be presenting SCEPA's annual Irene & Bernard L. Schwartz Lecture. The lecture is designed to contribute to and influence the debate over crucial policy issues facing the U.S. and world economies by bringing a distinguished speaker or panel to address the University. Past speakers have included Paul Krugman, Robert Rubin, Amartya Sen, Andy Stern and Laura Tyson.